GALLACHER defended himself against remarks from Ryder Cup legend Jacklin, who claimed the Scot lacked the bottle for the showcase event in September.

STEPHEN GALLACHER last night hit back at criticism from Ryder Cup great Tony Jacklin who claimed he lacks the bottle to compete against the USA this year at Gleneagles.

In a bizarre outburst the near 70-year-old Jacklin, a double Major winner, seven-time Ryder Cup player and four-time European captain, insisted the Scot doesn’t have the mental toughness required.

Jacklin said: “I’m not trying to be unkind but Stephen looks a bit iffy sometimes, as if he’s not sure. He’s a bit tender-minded.

“You need mental toughness to play in a Ryder Cup. You’ve got to be able to walk through walls and be as hard as nails.”

Gallacher is currently lying 15th on the Ryder Cup points table, just six places from automatically qualifying for Paul McGinley’s European side.

And after posting a four-under 68 on day three of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth the Scot defended himself against Jacklin’s comments.

He said: “That’s his opinion but when you are commentating you have to fill the gaps. He can say what he wants, it’s not going to bother me, put it that way. And if he’s saying I am not ruthless enough I don’t agree.

“If I qualify, and I hope to, then I have earned my place. If you don’t make it, you’ve not done enough. It’s as simple as that.”

Stephen’s uncle, Bernard Gallacher, found himself drawn into the controversy and backed Jacklin, who he played under in the 1983 European side which lost at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.

He said: “Tony is just trying to be helpful. He’s trying to tell Stephen to toughen up.

“He is highly respectful of Stephen’s game but feels he should have more confidence in himself that he can go right to the top. He’s trying to be positive without knocking him.”

Gallacher trails pacesetter Thomas Bjorn, who leads on 15-under 201, by 12 strokes at Wentworth with the Dane firing a 67 yesterday to stay five shots clear of nearest challenger Luke Donald who had a 68.

The leading Scot in the field is Greenock’s Chris Doak who holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the last in a third-round 69 to leave him on 210, nine shots off the lead.

Doak said: “We’ll have see what happens in the final round but if I get a couple of birdies early on that will help.”

Doak will be among five Scots in Monday’s 36-hole US Open qualifier at Walton Heath.

And Scott Jamieson hopes to emulate New Zealand’s Michael Campbell who in 2005 made it through qualifying and went on to win the tournament.

The venue for the US Open then was Pinehurst, as it is this year, which Jamieson feels may be an omen.

He said: “The great thing is Cambo won at Pinehurst so that is an added inspiration to me.”